How To Sharpen a Plane Blade (The Correct Method)

[@hhelsinger]

Matt, your videos on sharpening and setting a plane blade have taught me I've been doing it wrong for 55 years. That you are right is absolutely clear from the results I've immediately gotten. I've spent the evening sharpening all seven planes. Easy - and Spectacular -- thanks.

[@MrDerpGLP]

Hey Matt, I'm just a woodworking apprentice at the moment... but man you show me once again why this craft is the best in the world. Thanks for the motivation again and again and again. Looking forward to your next video.

[@ernoldsame1868]

Ah man, that’s nice. Good luck with you’re woodworking career bro ✌️

[@garykahne1266]

Single best and most comprehensive lapping and sharpening video or lesson I have ever seen.

[@Beamish32]

My 15 year old son has recently shown an interest in woodwork. I have never really had a clue and my dad unfortunately died 3 years before Jack was born so we haven't got the master to teach us. Recently helped my mum go through the garage and sort out some of dad's old tool hoard. I have the whetstones and planes and this video is really going to help us sharpen everything. Thank you despite the fact that it's a 2 year old video. Liked and subscribed

[@Beamish32]

Is there any rule of thumb to tell me what these 3 stones are? Colour, finger roughness etc?

[@potvinsuks8730]

Must be in the blood!

[@mrsdoyle1966]

@@Beamish32 just get an oil stone. yes the king wet stone will get a stupid finish to the blade its not necessary and a waste of time. if you can ... like he says, get the tip of the blade polished and your are 90%

[@MrWenglish]

What an OUTSTANDING presentation. Video and audio quality is excellent. Matt, you speak clearly, and your carefully explained processes are so helpful. One of the best presentations I have heard in years. I have learnt much and very grateful to you. Well done and thank you.

[@NeoGeoEch13]

I've seen around 50 vids on sharpening, but the small sketch you did for the primary and secondary bevels and when to actually flatten the whole thing again to ~25, was the extra mile. Congrats man!

[@johnjmorris]

This video has by far been the best at explaining the what, why, and how to getting a proper camber on a planing iron/blade. Many thanks for this very insightful video - and for the many others that keep us "sharp!"

[@MtJensen18]

Again Matt, you do such a good job at making all the knowledge easy to grasp and apply. Love your teaching method.

[@seanphillips7766]

By far the best plane sharpening instruction I've found. My planes are next level now thanks to following your instruction. I had made a mess of them trying to sharpen without a honing guide. Thanks so much, great stuff!

[@Danny-ul4sq]

Love the start. You're killing me with the hammer thing. And so nice to get back to instructional videos. Really liked your other stuff, but knowledge transfer from you is worth gold.

[@Thatguy-2083]

Brilliant video mate wood working was my first profession i then went on to military service and now im a lori driver and am looking to get back into wood working and videos like this are exactly what i was looking for as a refresher...cheers

[@abbbee8918]

Matt, I really like your teaching style. I’m new to woodworking and am looking for a way into this beautiful craft. I really feel as though I have learned a lot from each of your videos, thank you. You are confident about giving advice without ever coming across as arrogant, quite the opposite. You know, and say, if there is something you are not experienced at/with.

[@Zie_carpentry]

😊😊😊👍

[@moreisdifferent]

I've watched many sharpening videos over the years and improved my technique and results gradually, but stropping by hand never worked for me till I watched this video. My honing compound always crumbled on the strop and I used to get poor results. Just a few drops of 3 in 1 oil was all I've been missing, and nobody else mentioned that. Thanks Matt!

[@TiffMcGiff]

As a beginner, these videos are second to none. Good job man.

[@kevinharris931]

Dude: you humble me. I have been sharpening edges for years for all kinds of tasks, and you not only taught me something new; but, you reminded me of things I had forgotten. I don't think English has a word for that. Thank you so much.

[@daveychainsaw961]

This is a video i would have loved when i was starting out. You have a gift for teaching and you do so in a quick and concise way.

[@andrejsv5083]

Hey Matt, I'm IT world member, who sometime like to do an work at woodworking by my hands. Your tips is the best and very understandable from what I have ever seen ever. Huge Thanks!

[@kevinfox7660]

Thank you so much for an excellent intro on blade sharpening. Blade sharpening was a mystery to me and now you have put me on the right track to learn and sharpen my skills.

[@PapaFlammy69]

Matt be back on the YT grind :^)

[@Zie_carpentry]

Hello friend

[@BlakePizzey]

I'm so happy your back to the instructional videos! Keep them coming.

[@Zie_carpentry]

Hello sir 🙏🤝🤝🤝

[@adellacharlton235]

Hi Matt. I just need to tell you that I have finally managed to sharpen my no4 plane and have made shavings!!! Have watched your tutorials at least 5 times! Thank you.

[@ybab-j]

the camber on the plane…that’s next level and left out of a LOT of tutorials. next level stuff as always!

[@mikemcdermott4869]

Awesome videos Matt well structured, presented and so very easy to follow. A lot of the stuff I already knew, but lacked depth, other stuff I didn't know, but now do. Excellent stuff.

[@freddavis5544]

I want to thank you. I took shop class starting in 8th grade thru 12th. my shop teachers never showed anything about the plane. I didn't know the parts let alone how to use or sharpen. Their way of teaching was here is the plane there's the wood. Oh yeah, I'm 77years old. Thanks again.

[@kevinetchells204]

Hi Matt, use your videos to support our learners. Always good to show that we all have slightly different methods. Full of content. I have a personal grind (Pun) with the figure 8 as I was taught by old old traditional carpenter joiners who indoctrinated that figure 8s for gouges only, and this habit differentiated the craft from the prolatariate. Flat grinding flat stone. Mind you they had many stones for many cutting blades. Same with hand strop. Very old joiners would have a leather, however their hands were much tougher because they did more work than these day with hand tools.

[@AlanAitken-k2x]

Great Video. The best explanation i have found and went straight out to the shed and for the first time managed to get the blade sharp and then take proper shavings. Thank you. 👍

[@samtheman0876534]

Great video Matt, I always pick up something new from your videos. The ruler trick is very handy to know and also your doing a great job explaining it simple for us common folk.

[@Zie_carpentry]

🙏🤝🤝🤝

[@tomtresco2952]

I was taught by a Master Joiner in 1963, 7 year apprenticeship so I know a little about wood, however, your sharpening method is 2nd to none, loved watching it. Ps . Karma story was a cracker lol , you never stop learning in this game however long you've been in the trade, well done and thanks

[@philiplloyd7282]

Fantastically clear explanation of how to sharpen a chisel or plane blade. Thanks.

[@johncoulter9287]

I really like your thorough teaching of each specific part. Thank You.

[@vosifle]

Best woodworking tutorials on KZbin! Thank you Matt!

[@whatyousaidbud]

Cheers fella, as a 35yr old who is getting back into woodworking after not doing much since my apprenticeship, this is very useful!!

[@bradleytuckwell4854]

I love your tutorials on sharping you explain it so well.And by following you method my planes and chisels are razor sharp so thanks heaps

[@mileshh515]

Matt mentioned bench grinders. Using a CBN wheel is a great option. It keeps the steel much cooler than an oxide wheel and works fast. Pretty cost effective too, you can get a Rikon slow speed grinder for US$150 and a CBN wheel for around the same. Less than the Tormek at least.

[@cdnbean]

Again - super informative and educational that is easily digestible :-) thank you for helping me get my sharpening to the next level!!

[@apmeehan]

Absolutely fantastic video. Incredibly info-dense, while also being entirely accessible and digestible. Not to mention genuinely funny ("Oh that didn't w-" _JUMP CUT_ ). As a newbie, to be reassured about the things that don't matter is incredibly freeing, allowing me to concern myself only with the things that _do_ (such as "NEVER ADD A BACK-BEVEL TO YOUR CHISELS", which I _may well_ have done had I not been told otherwise at exactly this point). And to not only be given some clarity around the terminology (eg. the distinctions between sharpening/lapping/honing/grinding/polishing) but also have it explained that these terms are not even strictly defined, really helps with information-overload and the "analysis paralysis" that afflicts so many of us beginners. Thank you so much.

[@jamesharris5156]

Great vid! I sharpen almost exactly the same way. Sharpie’s work great to tell if you’re sharpening the correct angle/check flatness. Also, to get perfect blade and stone flatness, I use wet/dry sandpaper on a mirror. Also also, the sandpaper on a mirror trick works great for polishing the sides and bottom of your plane. Turn your $50 planer into a $400 planer with $3 worth of Harbor Freight wedges/dry paper. I just got done polishing mine and gave it a coat of PTFE WD40. Absolutely blew my mind how much friction was removed. Don’t even need a plane stop for a lot of stuff.

[@douglasbrown3493]

you have the best woodworking videos on YT. TY.

[@astronemir]

Gonna put this on tonight while sharpening my new wooden planes and one Rapier 400.

[@TheEphemeris]

I was literally looking for something to put on while I regrind and touch up an old plane I'm restoring... Remarkably good timing

[@jamesduffin9417]

Wow that’s great timing lucky you!!

[@michellek5789]

That plane is just beautiful!

[@matthewhardesty6872]

Maybe warm water is more the go during winter months! Love the tips and vid, thank you for the vital, more nuanced instructions most leave out.

[@angelaburt3266]

Matt, thanks for such great explanation and demo. Every day is a school day.

[@michaelcarson4840]

Thank you I have always been confused about planes thank you for sharing your knowledge. Very much appreciated

[@64puma64]

Brilliant as usual Matt. Best explanation I’ve heard. And a Lost Art Press book on the shelf behind you. Feckin genius.

[@BeachBoi1000]

He is a teacher at woodworking school. So that explains why he can explain things so understandable.

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

Thank you! That is a good tutorial. I saw quite a lot videos about this and I found my own way but... Now I see I was really doing some mistakes... This will make my sharpening better and faster! Thanks, Tomas

[@MrJeffbraz]

So thorough you are very good at explaining in detail I have not used a plane so far but I feel very confident to do so well done mate

[@cushionbelly2519]

I am old enough to be your father (Luke). However, I've always known I'm never too old to learn things. What an excellently explained video. Thank you.

[@Solid_Jackson]

This is a bloody good video, well produced, well edited, good script, subbed

[@rickjames501]

great diagrams. Better than Rob's descriptions. Earned a subscription from me for this! Thanks!

[@AdamAugustPhoto]

Glad you released this today. I'm restoring my grandads manky old record 078 rebate plane & I would have put a camber on the blade. Logical why you wouldn't when you think about it.

[@danhobbs7847]

Loved the video, very informative, especially on the camber on plane blade. Thank you soo much.

[@benjaminthomas2626]

This is really informative, great tips that would take years to learn. Loved the intro, nice bit of humour😂.

[@peterkenyonjr]

Great video. Randomly popped up on my feed but found it really informative. Thanks!

[@leelchandmahabeer3427]

Brilliantly done. Thank you very much. Very well presented video.

[@envisiotube]

Perfect learning material. No wonder you have so much subscribers ... Thanks!

[@salimufari]

Okay Matt Here is my case against Hollow Grind on a plane blade edge. Since the arc left is perpendicular to the force of the cut you lack the supporting metal that helps prevent chipping in the cutting edge. As long as the cutting edge has an angle less than the plane bed at the frog even having a convex cutting edge would help transfer the energy through the blade rather than against the arc of a hollow ground surface. I know this effect is minimized especially with a secondary bevel but it's based on the mechanical effect of the arc vs force used. It may sound pedantic but it's how this was explained to me.

[@roderik1990]

Honestly I'd think that the curvature of the hollow grind be shallow enough such that you can effectively see it as a flat grind. IMHO it matters more at the more acute edge angles.

[@steveexcell7017]

Great video! A MagSwitch makes and nice "finger" handhold for polishing the back of hand plane blades.

[@kelvindawe5123]

What a brilliant video iam a carpenter of 40 years and this has always been a job I've hated but you have explained it in such a way my plane has never been so sharp which makes my life much easier so thanks again matt. 👏👏👏👍

[@JohnMcGrathManInShed]

Great video Matt, everything you need to know.

[@robohippy]

Watched this again, just to refresh my memory. That never hurts..... I used to have a memory.... Still learning to use hand planes.

[@frankmiller7523]

This is the sort of knowledge that you normally only get after working with a master craftsman for a full apprenticeship. It may be more popular in certain parts of the world with unmodulated heavy metal music, but I like the succinct, informative and technical style better.

[@marcusaquino6105]

Keep making videos. You are good at this.

[@roncouch]

You know something fella, really like your style! If you’re not already teaching youngsters in schools I’d be a tad disappointed. Am in my mid-eighties, an engineer by profession and still not too old to learn - even if it is from a youngster😇 Not come across this site before so, have added it to my library as I am doing more woodworking than engineering since I retired over twenty years ago. I found it to be a really good tutorial, thank you. And yes, did know about the ruler “trick”, but nice to be reminded, none-the-less.

[@toonybrain]

A video jam-packed with good stuff. Great job.

[@ZedRMAV]

This guy just earned a subscription

[@jss127ess]

Wow, this is so good. Great job Matt. Love your sense of humor! Couple of questions, can a diamond stone be used for lapping? Also, you mentioned that diamond stones clog more often than whetstones. What's the best way to unclog a diamond stone?

[@josephsones]

Excellent and thorough video

[@sigogglin]

I am advanced beginner trending towards more hand tools so this helps a lot.

[@slaughterhouse6461]

A tip from an old cabinet making magazine I have - use sandpaper on a sheet of glass to flatten out your stone and a small amount of water/oil dependant on the stone type.

[@everready19373]

I don't know a darn thing about planes. I pick up a Stanley Handyman yesterday and just finished refurbishing it. Thanks to videos like this I got it cutting oak and walnut pretty nicely, IMHO.

[@leeanderson5955]

Awesome demonstration I learned a lot can’t wait to try it out

[@gazobee]

Just discovered your channel after the video on Robin Clevett’s channel. I have to say I like your style. I shall start consuming the content.

[@Lalagartitita]

Excellent video, thank you Matt.

[@muhammadzeeshanali268]

Nice I really like your video. Value able information.

[@nagranoth_]

Don't you hate it when you're happily planing away and suddenly out of nowhere a screw sticking several cm out of the board appears out of nowhere, phase shifts right through the nose of your plane, and rams your blade? ROFL

[@m101ist]

Just plane around the screw.

[@johncurrie1789]

😂🤣😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@ayoungartistakajack6799]

@@m101ist just plane around yo mama.

[@ugaladh]

You are very easy to listen to.

[@jamesduffin9417]

Love the video explains sharpening so well. Love the merch plug too, did you get inspiration from Linus?

[@GeorgeWMays]

Excellent. Super good. Thanks. Appreciated.

[@claudemathieu9581]

wow! thank you for the excellent demo

[@bkipad]

Superb instructions thanks

[@barrycallow8308]

Matt thanks for your videos. I wish we had these growing up! Keep up the great work. PS I live in London. Ontario and Lee Valley is my favorite place to visit. I have everyone of their veritas spoke shaves and other tools.

[@kantarjiev]

Super content, I have been enjoying a lot of your videos since finding your channel. The one thing I wish you'd address is sharpening/adjusting the chip breaker... I didn't see that in either the sharpening or setup video, but maybe I nodded off.

[@RaduB.]

Thank you!

[@gordonchapman222]

Great intro, you had me fooled for a second. A very enjoyable and informative video 😎

[@gerrys6265]

Wow, what a great video....thanks learned heaps

[@YouTubeStat]

Great video! Thank you!

[@jimmyjimjim2413]

I am a creature of moderate mathematics. and more so common sense/logic. This fits perfectly, Thanks!

[@robinr6919]

Excellent demo

[@calzaghe93]

Hi Matt, I've watched this and your chisel sharpening video a fair few times now. Each and every time the intro's have me laughing!

[@TheRonnielaifer]

Hi all and thanks Matt for all the awesome content. Quick question: as a guide, what primary and then secondary angles do you sharpen a low angle Jack plane blade to? Keep up the good work, thanks.

[@jcoul1sc]

Interesting. I saw Rob Cosmans response to your previous vid, with 32 seconds to sharp. Please keep going and do more revolutionary or contrary type videos that annoy others :) BTW I hate Roubo benches

[@kevinwood9993]

Hi Matt, thanks for the video, just a quick question, can you confirm whether or not you are supposed to be using water with the diamond honing wheel, I'm sure I have seen or read that you are advised to use them dry.

[@ConfusedAtom-yv9px]

Beautiful

[@the1khronohs40]

Love how you keep hammerene that blade just to tick sertain people off! 😂👌 And that instant karma story; so funny! He, hopefully, learned more than sharpening that day! 😁

[@bobsmith1101]

Propane Infrared heater on top of barbeque tank. Good clean heat.

[@davecharlesworth8176]

Nice one Matt

[@isaibreoganjunqueraalvarez3332]

On another note, that intro is hilarious

[@colinmoxon3035]

G'day Matt, love these sharpening tutorials. Have helped me immensely. Just made my first cricket bat which turned out really well. Wondering if you had any tips on sharpening a straight draw knife. Was hoping to get mine to cut a little better. I have considered that perhaps I just need some practice using said draw knife, having it sharp would be a good start however. Keep up the good work.

[@hazeltollz5695]

Tried to check out the hoodies in the shop and nothing came up? I can see the tshirts fine. Loving the new stuff!